Powyamory (from Greekπολύpowy, "many, severaw", and Latinamor, "wove") is de practice of, or desire for, intimate rewationships wif more dan one partner, wif de knowwedge of aww partners.[1][2] It has been described as "consensuaw, edicaw, and responsibwe non-monogamy".[3][4][5] Peopwe who identify as powyamorous reject de view dat sexuaw and rewationaw excwusivity are necessary for deep, committed, wong-term woving rewationships.[6]

Powyamorous arrangements are varied,[7][8] refwecting de choices and phiwosophies of de individuaws invowved, but wif recurring demes or vawues, such as wove, intimacy, honesty, integrity, eqwawity, communication, and commitment.[4][2]

Confusion arises when powyamory is misappwied in a broader sense, as an umbrewwa term for various forms of consensuaw non-monogamous, muwti-partner rewationships (incwuding powyamory), or consensuaw non-excwusive sexuaw or romantic rewationships.[9]

The word powyamorous first appeared in an articwe by Morning Gwory Zeww-Ravenheart, "A Bouqwet of Lovers", pubwished in May 1990 in Green Egg Magazine, as "powy-amorous".[10] In May 1992, Jennifer L. Wesp created de Usenetnewsgroupawt.powyamory,[11] and de Oxford Engwish Dictionary cites de proposaw to create dat group as de first verified appearance of de word.[10] The words "powyamory, -ous, and -ist" were added to de OED in 2006.[12] In 1999, Zeww-Ravenheart was asked by de editor of de OED to provide a definition of de term, and had provided it for de UK version as The practice, state or abiwity of having more dan one sexuaw woving rewationship at de same time, wif de fuww knowwedge and consent of aww partners invowved.[13] Powyamory is a wess specific term dan powygamy, de practice or condition of having more dan one spouse.

No singwe definition of "powyamory" has universaw acceptance, wif de Oxford Engwish Dictionary having widewy divergent definitions for de word for de UK and US versions[14][15][16]. Awdough many sources define powyamory as a sexuaw and/or romantic rewationship practice or form, de Norf American version of de OED decwares it a phiwosophy or state, and some bewieve dat it shouwd be cwassified an orientation or identity (wike sexuaw orientation or gender identity).[17] Most definitions of powyamory center on de concepts provided by Ravenheart's definition, uh-hah-hah-hah.[citation needed] Areas of difference arise regarding de degree of commitment, such as in de practice of casuaw sexuaw activities, and wheder it represents a viewpoint or a rewationaw status qwo (i.e., wheder a person widout current partners shouwd be considered "powyamorous").[citation needed] Powyamorous rewationships can be open, where de rewationaw partners agree to permit romantic or sexuaw rewationships wif oder peopwe, or cwosed, where dose invowved do not engage in rewationships outside of de defined set of committed partners. The practice of engaging in cwosed powyamorous rewationships is sometimes cawwed[according to whom?]group marriage or powyfidewity.

The terms primary (or primary rewationship(s)) and secondary (or secondary rewationship(s)) may be used[when?] to indicate a hierarchy of different rewationships or de pwace of each rewationship in a person's wife. Thus, a person may refer to a wive-in partner as deir primary partner, and a wover whom dey onwy see once a week as deir secondary partner, in order to differentiate to de wistener who is who. Whiwe such wabews can be used as a toow to manage muwtipwe rewationships[according to whom?], some[who?] bewieve dat such a hierarchy is unfair, dat aww de invowved partners deserve eqwaw standing and consideration, uh-hah-hah-hah. Anoder modew, sometimes referred to[according to whom?] as an intimate network, incwudes rewationships dat are of varying significance to de peopwe invowved, but are not expwicitwy wabewed as "primary" or "secondary". Widin dis modew, a hierarchy may be fwuid and vague, or nonexistent.[citation needed]

There is a cuwturaw divide between de powyamorous and swinger communities, de former emphasizing de emotionaw and egawitarian aspects of pwuraw rewationships and de watter emphasizing sexuaw non-monogamy and emotionaw monogamy.[18] A person wif powyamorous rewationships may awso engage in swinging and oder open rewationships. As weww, swingers occasionawwy devewop deep emotionaw attachments wif deir sexuaw friends. Swingers and powyamorous peopwe awike might engage in secret infidewities, dough dis is no more acceptabwe dan in monogamy.

The Oneida Community in de 1800s in New York (a Christian rewigious commune) bewieved strongwy in a system of free wove known as compwex marriage,[19] where any member was free to have sex wif any oder who consented.[20] Possessiveness and excwusive rewationships were frowned upon, uh-hah-hah-hah.[21]

Kerista was a new rewigion dat was started in New York City in 1956 by John Pewtz "Bro Jud" Presmont; droughout much of its history, Kerista was centered on de ideaws of powyfidewity and creation of intentionaw communities.

On August 29, 2017, de Counciw on Bibwicaw Manhood and Womanhood reweased a manifesto on human sexuawity known as de "Nashviwwe Statement". The statement was signed by 150 evangewicaw weaders, and incwudes 14 points of bewief.[23] Among oder dings, it states, "We deny dat God has designed marriage to be a homosexuaw, powygamous, or powyamorous rewationship."[24][25]

Some Jews are powyamorous, but mainstream Judaism does not accept powyamory; however, Sharon Kweinbaum, de senior rabbi at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah in New York, has said dat powyamory is a choice dat does not precwude a Jewishwy observant and sociawwy conscious wife.[26] Some powyamorous Jews awso point to bibwicaw patriarchs having muwtipwe wives and concubines as evidence dat powyamorous rewationships can be sacred in Judaism.[27] An emaiw wist dedicated to powyamorous Jews, cawwed AhavaRaba, which roughwy transwates to "big wove" in Hebrew,[28] and whose name echoes God's "great" or "abounding" wove mentioned in de Ahava rabbah prayer.[29]

LaVeyan Satanism is criticaw of Abrahamic sexuaw mores, considering dem narrow, restrictive and hypocriticaw. Satanists are pwurawists, accepting powyamorists, bisexuaws, wesbians, gays, BDSM, transgender peopwe, and asexuaws. Sex is viewed as an induwgence, but one dat shouwd onwy be freewy entered into wif consent. The Eweven Satanic Ruwes of de Earf onwy give two instructions regarding sex: "Do not make sexuaw advances unwess you are given de mating signaw" and "Do not harm wittwe chiwdren," dough de watter is much broader and encompasses physicaw and oder abuse. This has awways been consistent part of CoS powicy since its inception in 1966, as Peter H. Giwwmore wrote in an essay supporting same-sex marriage:

Unitarian Universawists for Powyamory Awareness, founded in 2001, has engaged in ongoing education and advocacy for greater understanding and acceptance of powyamory widin de Unitarian Universawist Association.[31] At de 2014 Generaw Assembwy, two UUPA members moved to incwude de category of "famiwy and rewationship structures" in de UUA's nondiscrimination ruwe, awong wif oder amendments; de package of proposed amendments was ratified by de GA dewegates.[32] Whiwe dis has encouraged UUPA's membership, de UUA itsewf has yet to take specific action towards assuring greater awareness and incwusion of powyamorous peopwe.

Bigamy is de act of marrying one person whiwe awready being married to anoder, and is wegawwy prohibited in most countries in which monogamy is de cuwturaw norm. Some bigamy statutes are broad enough to potentiawwy encompass powyamorous rewationships invowving cohabitation, even if none of de participants cwaim marriage to more dan one partner.

In most countries, it is wegaw for dree or more peopwe to form and share a sexuaw rewationship (subject sometimes to waws against homosexuawity or aduwtery if two of de dree are married). Wif onwy minor exceptions no devewoped countries permit marriage among more dan two peopwe, nor do de majority of countries give wegaw protection (e.g., of rights rewating to chiwdren) to non-married partners. Individuaws invowved in powyamorous rewationships are generawwy considered by de waw to be no different from peopwe who wive togeder, or "date", under oder circumstances. In 2017 John Awejandro Rodriguez, Victor Hugo Prada, and Manuew Jose Bermudez were married in Cowombia, dus becoming Cowombia's first powyamorous famiwy to have a wegawwy recognized rewationship.[33]

In many jurisdictions where same-sex coupwes can access civiw unions or registered partnerships, dese are often intended as parawwew institutions to dat of heterosexuaw monogamous marriage. Accordingwy, dey incwude parawwew entitwements, obwigations, and wimitations. Among de watter, as in de case of de New Zeawand Civiw Union Act 2005, dere are parawwew prohibitions on civiw unions wif more dan one partner, which is considered bigamy, or duaw marriage/civiw union hybrids wif more dan one person, uh-hah-hah-hah. Bof are banned under Sections 205–206 of de Crimes Act 1961. In jurisdictions where same-sex marriage proper exists, bigamous same-sex marriages faww under de same set of wegaw prohibitions as bigamous heterosexuaw marriages. As yet, dere is no case waw appwicabwe to dese issues.[34]

Having muwtipwe non-maritaw partners, even if married to one, is wegaw in most U.S. jurisdictions; at most it constitutes grounds for divorce if de spouse is non-consenting, or feews dat de interest in a furder partner has destabiwized de marriage. In jurisdictions where civiw unions or registered partnerships are recognized, de same principwe appwies to divorce in dose contexts. There are exceptions to dis: in Norf Carowina, a spouse can sue a dird party for causing "woss of affection" in or "criminaw conversation" (aduwtery) wif deir spouse,[35] and more dan twenty states in de US have waws against aduwtery[36] awdough dey are infreqwentwy enforced. Some states were prompted to review deir waws criminawizing consensuaw sexuaw activity in de wake of de Supreme Court's ruwing in Lawrence v. Texas.

At present, de extension to muwtipwe-partner rewationships of waws dat use a criterion simiwar to dat adopted in de UK, i.e., "married or wiving togeder as married" remains wargewy untested. That is, it is not known wheder dese waws couwd treat some trios or warger groups as common-waw marriages.

If marriage is intended, most countries provide for bof a rewigious marriage and a civiw ceremony (sometimes combined). These recognize and formawize de rewationship. Few Western countries give eider rewigious or wegaw recognition – or permission – to marriages wif dree or more partners. Whiwe a recent case in de Nederwands was commonwy read as demonstrating dat Dutch waw permitted muwtipwe-partner civiw unions,[37] de rewationship in qwestion was a samenwevingscontract, or "cohabitation contract", and not a registered partnership or marriage.[38][39] The Nederwands' waw concerning registered partnerships provides dat

a person may be invowved in one onwy registered partnership wif one oder person wheder of de same or of opposite sex at any one time.

persons who enter into a registered partnership may not at de same time be married.

A detaiwed wegaw deory of powyamorous marriage is being devewoped.[undue weight?– discuss] The "dyadic networks" modew[40] cawws for de revision of existing waws against bigamy to permit married persons to enter into additionaw marriages, provided dat dey have first given wegaw notice to deir existing maritaw partner(s). And some wegaw schowars bewieve dat de US constitutionaw rights of Due Process and Eqwaw Protection fuwwy support marriage rights for powyamorous famiwies.[41]

During a PinkNews qwestion-and-answer session in May 2015, Redfern Jon Barrett qwestioned Natawie Bennett, weader of de Green Party of Engwand and Wawes, about her party's stance towards powyamorous marriage rights. Bennett responded by saying dat her party is "open" to discussion on de idea of civiw partnership or marriages between dree peopwe.[42] Bennett's announcement aroused media controversy on de topic and wed to major internationaw news outwets covering her answer.[43][44] A fowwow-up articwe written by Barrett was pubwished by PinkNews on May 4, 2015, furder expworing de topic.[45]

Separate from powyamory as a phiwosophicaw basis for rewationship, are de practicaw ways in which peopwe who wive powyamorouswy arrange deir wives and handwe certain issues, as compared to dose of a generawwy more sociawwy acceptabwe monogamous arrangement.[6]

Fidewity and woyawty: Many powyamorists define fidewity not as sexuaw excwusivity, but as faidfuwness to de promises and agreements made about a rewationship. As a rewationaw practice, powyamory sustains a vast variety of open rewationship or muwti-partner constewwations, which can differ in definition and grades of intensity, cwoseness and commitment.[46] For some, powyamory functions as an umbrewwa term for de muwtipwe approaches of 'responsibwe non-monogamy'.[46] A secret sexuaw rewationship dat viowates dose accords wouwd be seen as a breach of fidewity. Powyamorists generawwy base definitions of commitment on considerations oder dan sexuaw excwusivity, e.g. "trust and honesty" or "growing owd togeder".[47]

Communication and negotiation: Because dere is no "standard modew" for powyamorous rewationships, and rewiance upon common expectations may not be reawistic, powyamorists often advocate expwicitwy negotiating wif aww invowved to estabwish de terms of deir rewationships, and often emphasize dat dis shouwd be an ongoing process of honest communication and respect. Powyamorists wiww usuawwy take a pragmatic approach to deir rewationships; many accept dat sometimes dey and deir partners wiww make mistakes and faiw to wive up to dese ideaws, and dat communication is important for repairing any breaches.[48][49]

Trust, honesty, dignity, and respect: Most powyamorists emphasize respect, trust, and honesty for aww partners.[48][49] Ideawwy, a partner's partners are accepted as part of dat person's wife rader dan merewy towerated, and usuawwy a rewationship dat reqwires deception or a "don't ask don't teww" powicy is seen as a wess dan ideaw modew.

Boundaries and agreements: Powy rewationships often invowve negotiating agreements, and estabwishing specific boundaries, or "ground ruwes"; such agreements vary widewy and may change over time, but couwd incwude, for exampwe: consuwtation about new rewationships; devising scheduwes dat work for everyone; wimits on physicaw dispways of affection in pubwic or among mixed company; and budgeting de amount of money a partner can spend on additionaw partners.

Gender eqwawity: Some powyamorists[who?] do not bewieve in different rewationship "ruwes" based on gender (dis is arguabwy in contrast to some forms of rewigious non-monogamy, which are often patriarchicawwy based). Sometimes, coupwes first expanding an existing monogamous rewationship into a powyamorous one, may adhere to gender-specific boundaries, such as when a wife agrees not to engage sexuawwy wif anoder mawe at her husband's reqwest, but may be awwowed to have romantic and sexuaw rewationships wif women, uh-hah-hah-hah. Such terms and boundaries are negotiabwe, and such asymmetric degrees of freedom among de partners (who need not be of different genders) are often due to individuaw differences and needs, and may be understood to be temporary widin a negotiated time frame, untiw furder opening up of de rewationship becomes practicabwe or easier for de parties to handwe emotionawwy.

Non-possessiveness: Many powyamorists[who?] view excessive restrictions on oder deep rewationships as wess dan desirabwe, as such restrictions can be used to repwace trust wif a framework of ownership and controw. It is usuawwy preferred or encouraged dat a powyamorist strive to view deir partners' oder significant oders (often referred to as OSOs[by whom?]) in terms of de gain to deir partners' wives rader dan a dreat to deir own (see compersion). Therefore, jeawousy and possessiveness are generawwy viewed not so much as someding to avoid or structure de rewationships around, but as responses dat shouwd be expwored, understood, and resowved widin each individuaw, wif compersion as a goaw.[50]

In 1998, a Tennessee court granted guardianship of a chiwd to her grandmoder and step-grandfader after de chiwd's moder Apriw Diviwbiss and partners outed demsewves as powyamorous on MTV. After contesting de decision for two years, Diviwbiss eventuawwy agreed to rewinqwish her daughter, acknowwedging dat she was unabwe to adeqwatewy care for her chiwd and dat dis, rader dan her powyamory, had been de grandparents' reaw motivation in seeking custody.[53]

Compersion (or, in Britain, frubbwe[54][55]) is an empadetic state of happiness and joy experienced when anoder individuaw experiences happiness and joy, and by members of de powyamory community[when defined as?] in de context of powyamorous rewationships. It is used[according to whom?] to describe when a person experiences positive feewings[vague] when a wover is enjoying anoder rewationship.[56][57]

PowyOz—"de positive feewings one gets when a wover is enjoying anoder rewationship. Sometimes cawwed de opposite or fwip side of jeawousy." They comment dat compersion can coexist wif jeawous feewings.[62]

The Powyamory society—"de feewing of taking joy in de joy dat oders you wove share among demsewves, especiawwy taking joy in de knowwedge dat your bewoveds are expressing deir wove for one anoder".[58]

The InnKeeper—"A feewing of joy when a woved one invests in and takes pweasure from anoder romantic or sexuaw rewationship. ... Compersion does not specificawwy refer to joy regarding de sexuaw activity of one's partner, but refers instead to joy at de rewationship wif anoder romantic or sexuaw partner. It's anawogous to de joy parents feew when deir chiwdren get married, or to de happiness fewt between best friends when dey find a partner."[63]

In Echwin's articwe in The Guardian,[fuww citation needed] six reasons for choosing powyamory are identified: a drive towards femawe independence and eqwawity driven by feminism; disiwwusionment wif monogamy; a yearning for community; honesty and reawism in respect of rewationaw nature of human beings; human nature; and individuaw non-matching of de traditionaw monogamous stereotype. Jim Fweckenstein, director of de Institute for 21st-Century Rewationships, is qwoted as stating dat de powyamory movement has been driven not onwy by science fiction, but awso by feminism: "Increased financiaw independence means dat women can buiwd rewationships de way dey want to." The disiwwusionment wif monogamy is said to be "because of widespread cheating and divorce". The wonging for community is associated wif a fewt need for de richness of "compwex and deep rewationships drough extended networks" in response to de repwacement and fragmentation of de extended famiwy by nucwear famiwies. "For many", Echwin writes, "it is a hankering for community ... we have become increasingwy awienated, partwy because of de 20f century's repwacement of de extended famiwy wif de nucwear famiwy. As a resuwt, many of us are striving to create compwex and deep rewationships drough extended networks of muwtipwe wovers and extended famiwies ... Powys agree dat some peopwe are monogamous by nature. But some of us are not, and more and more are refusing to be shoehorned into monogamy."[66][undue weight?– discuss]

Oders[qwantify] speak of creating an "honest responsibwe and sociawwy acceptabwe" version of non-monogamy – "since so many peopwe are awready non-monogamous, why not devewop a non-monogamy dat is honest, responsibwe and sociawwy acceptabwe? ... It seems weird dat having affairs is OK but being upfront about it is rocking de boat."[67]

A sixf reason, a coupwe's response to a faiwure of monogamy, by reaching a consensus to accept de additionaw rewationship, is identified by oder audors.[who?][68]

Research into powyamory has been wimited. A comprehensive government study of sexuaw attitudes, behaviors and rewationships in Finwand in 1992 (age 18–75, around 50% femawe and mawe) found dat around 200 out of 2250 (8.9%) respondents "agreed or strongwy agreed" wif de statement "I couwd maintain severaw sexuaw rewationships at de same time" and 8.2% indicated a rewationship type "dat best suits" at de present stage of wife wouwd invowve muwtipwe partners. By contrast, when asked about oder rewationships at de same time as a steady rewationship, around 17% stated dey had had oder partners whiwe in a steady rewationship (50% no, 17% yes, 33% refused to answer).[69]

The articwe,What Psychowogy Professionaws Shouwd Know About Powyamory, based on a paper presented at de 8f Annuaw Diversity Conference in March 1999 in Awbany, New York, states de fowwowing:

A study by Moors et aw. examined "consensuaw non-monogamy" or CNM (which incwudes powyamory) in de context of attachment in aduwts, particuwarwy wif regards to anxiety (insecurity about a partner's avaiwabiwity) and avoidance (discomfort wif cwoseness). The first sampwe was of excwusivewy monogamous individuaws dat were not towd de nature of what was being studied, and found dat dose wif high attachment avoidance[jargon] tended to view CNM more positivewy as weww as being more wiwwing to engage in it (but had not actuawwy engaged in it). The audors deorized dis was "because dese rewationships promote distance from deir partners and support deir accepting attitudes toward uncommitted and casuaw sex." Individuaws wif high attachment anxiety tended to view CNM negativewy, but no correwation was found regarding wiwwingness to engage in it. The second sampwe was a targeted recruitment of individuaws currentwy engaged in CNM rewationships. This sampwe showed wow wevews of attachment avoidance, and no correwation rewated to attachment anxiety. The wack of correwation wif anxiety in eider sampwe wif regards to wiwwingness or actuaw engagement suggested it may have wittwe impact on de matter. The warge disparity in attachment avoidance between dose wiwwing to engage in CNM and dose dat actuawwy engage in it couwd not be fuwwy expwained widin de context of de study, but de audors offer severaw hypodeses.[exampwe needed] The study awso had a few wimitations, incwuding dat aww subjects were heterosexuaw, de data was anonymous sewf-report and de second sampwe may have suffered from sociaw desirabiwity bias due to its targeted recruitment.[71]

There is wittwe research at present into de specific needs and reqwirements for handwing powyamory in a cwinicaw context.[needs update] A notabwe paper[according to whom?] in dis regard is Working wif powyamorous cwients in de cwinicaw setting (Davidson, 2002),[72] which addresses de fowwowing areas of inqwiry:

Why is it important dat we tawk about awternatives to monogamy now?

How can derapists prepare to work wif peopwe who are expworing powyamory?

What basic understandings about powyamory are needed?

What key issues do derapists need to watch for in de course of working wif powyamorous cwients?

Its concwusions, summarized,[according to whom?] were dat "Sweeping changes are occurring in de sexuaw and rewationaw wandscape" (incwuding "dissatisfaction wif wimitations of seriaw monogamy, i.e. exchanging one partner for anoder in de hope of a better outcome"); dat cwinicians need to start by "recognizing de array of possibiwities dat 'powyamory' encompasses" and "examine our cuwturawwy-based assumption dat 'onwy monogamy is acceptabwe'" and how dis bias impacts on de practice of derapy; de need for sewf-education about powyamory, basic understandings about de "rewards of de powy wifestywe" and de common sociaw and rewationship chawwenges faced by dose invowved, and de "shadow side" of powyamory, de potentiaw existing for coercion, strong emotions in opposition, and jeawousy.

The paper awso states dat de configurations a derapist wouwd be "most wikewy to see in practice" are individuaws invowved in primary-pwus arrangements, monogamous coupwes wishing to expwore non-monogamy for de first time, and "powy singwes".

The compwex nature of powyamory presents difficuwties in structuring research into de stabiwity of powyamorous rewationships. For instance, powyamorists may be rewuctant to discwose deir rewationship status due to potentiaw negative conseqwences, and researchers may be unfamiwiar wif de fuww range of powyamorous behaviours, weading to poorwy framed qwestions dat give misweading resuwts.[80]

A number of symbows have been created to represent powyamory. These incwude a parrot (a pun, as "Powwy" is a common name for domesticated parrots)[81][82][83] and de infinity heart. The "infinity heart" symbow has appeared on pins, T-shirts, bumper stickers and oder media.[84][85]

Jim Evans' powyamory pride fwag

The Powyamory Pride Fwag designed by Jim Evans has stripes of bwue (representing openness and honesty among aww partners), red (representing wove and passion), and bwack (representing sowidarity wif dose who must hide deir powyamorous rewationships from de outside worwd). In de center of de fwag is a gowd Greek wowercase wetter 'pi', as de first wetter of 'powyamory'. Gowd represents "de vawue dat we pwace on de emotionaw attachment to oders... as opposed to merewy primariwy physicaw rewationships."[86] There is awso a simiwar ribbon, uh-hah-hah-hah.[87]

^Hewen Echwin (November 14, 2003). "When two just won't do". The Guardian. Retrieved March 27, 2007. For most peopwe, de biggest stumbwing bwock to powyamory is jeawousy. But powys try to see jeawousy wess as a green-eyed monster dan as an opportunity for character-buiwding

^ abFrom PowyOz gwossary: "Not in de [winguistic roots of de term] but very important is de commitment to honesty wif aww partners, and openwy negotiated ground ruwes." Scm-rpg.comArchived February 27, 2009, at de Wayback Machine.

^ abFrom sexuawity.org: "Two of de cuwturaw cornerstones of de powyamory community are honesty and communication: it's expected dat you and your existing wong-term partner(s) wiww have tawked over what you're comfortabwe wif and what you aren't comfortabwe wif, and dat nobody is going around behind anyone ewse's back."

^Diwwinger, Ray (June 8, 1997). "awt.powyamory home page". Retrieved October 9, 2007. Parrot graphic by Ray Diwwinger, pwaced in de pubwic domain for use as a powy mascot.

^Hewen Echwin (November 14, 2003). "When two just won't do". The Guardian. Retrieved March 27, 2007. Today America has more dan 100 powy emaiw wists and support groups. Their embwem, which marks de tabwe when dey meet in restaurants, is de parrot (because of deir nickname Powwy)